My 1st Scrapbooking Class: Just Getting Started

My colleague friend, NSL, jio-ed me for the basic scrapbooking class held @ Made with Love. Being interested with scrapbooking for quite some time, of cuz I said YES!

Anywae, the basic scrapbooking class - Just Getting Started will last 3.5 hours, is inclusive of all materials & a complimentary drink, cost only $35.Very worth it!

This is US!! - Hyper excited about our 1st scrapbooking class!

The instructor teaches us the type of materials and basic techniques, then go through a practical session with us, following a given template with the given colored papers and materials.

Us, getting busy...

My 1st proud piece of work (after adding the photos and journaling):

THEME: I LOVE The Way You LOVE Me
Photos: My 2 fav outdoor photoshoot

Following the 1st practical session, we are to choose our own papers and layout using the photos we brought along. I brought along my ROM photos thou it had been 4 years old liao

My 2nd proud piece of work:

THEME: Love Blooms
Photos: ROM photos (Monochrome)

Before adding journaling...

Complete Work!
After adding journaling...

A very nice piece of NSL's work (before journaling)

THEME: Bonjour
Photos: Her Europe trip with her bf

I am really gettin' hooked on to scrapbooking especially after taking up this basic scrapbooking course, cuz its really fun, especially with a fun partner learning together with me.. Contemplating to start one for my darling baby princess... But buying tools and materials-wise are pretty costly, so have to 适可而止...

DIY Popiah

Saw the documentary about handmade popiah skin on Ch 8 last night... Decided to go eat DIY Popiah today!

Dear recommended this "Good Chance Popiah" for our DIY Popiah dinner.

The ingredients:

Yam can cook (make popiah), So can U!

From Top Left to Right:

1. Lay out the popiah skin and put some minced garlic (if you like)
   
2. Spread the black sweet sauce (& chilli if you prefer spicy)
   
3. Put lettuce and tau geh
4. Put on the fillings (turnips and carrot)
5. Add the chinese sausages & sliced omelette
6. Sprinkle crushed peanut

Here's my (not his) resulting DIY popiah, cuz his broke once finishing wrapping..haha!
I really enjoyed this DIY Popiah dinner very much! It's delicious, filling and satisfying, especially having this first-time experience together with Dear!

Antenatal Lesson 2: Pain Relief

Monday 23 March 2009:

Lesson 2
Pain Relief	• Antenatal Exercise • Physiological Approach to Breathing Relaxation • Changes in Pregnancy Leading to Signs & Symptoms of Labour • Other Alternative Types of Pain Relief in Labour • Instructional Video • Q & A

When I was watching the video on the women who are in distress when in contractions, and the various methods of pain relief available to them, I was suddenly afraid (again). Afraid the moment when I have to face the pain (there are too many real life stories being told to me), especially its my first time... Its quite scary to be facing the unknown and the unforseen, you know?

Many people also told me that whatever breathing techniques you learnt beforehand, you will forget everything when the contractions come.. I will TRY to remember what the instructor has taught us in this lesson and TRY to apply when the need arises - Deep Breathing to relax the muscles, the Panting technique when in contractions.

Oh there's this idiotic and irritating guy who is the husband of one of the coursemate, who is really childish! When the instructor wants us to relax and imagine us at the seaside, to imagine the sea waves and sea breeze, tat stupid guy try to imitate the sound of the waves and the breeze, and blow air onto his wife's face. HE IS DISTRACTING ME LOR!!! I can't concentrate when he keeps making all these stoopid noises!!! I almost want to ask him to stop doing that...

Well, I shall worry about the pain and the fear when the time comes. But I will think its all worth it, to bring my little Princess to this world

Antenatal Lesson 1 - Physical & Mental Preparation

Saturday 21 Mar 2009:

Today Papa & Mama Yam went to attend our 1st antenatal lesson conducted by Parentcraft Centre (TMC) and the course outline for the 1st lesson is:

Lesson 1
Physical & Mental Preparation	• Antenatal Exercise • Nutrition Before & After Delivery • Myths & Traditions • Coping with Pregnancy Discomfort • Back Care & Postures • Instructional Video • Q & A

The antenatal exercise is conducted on the floor mats, with the hubbies involved.. Its such a funny sight seeing big men doing the exercises with us, learning how to massage us, learning how to pick the pregnant wives up from the floor etc. The famous instructor - Mrs Wong Boh Boi (her classes are always fully booked) also seems to be someone who wants the hubbies to be more involved in their wives' pregnancy, also taught them how to talk to the babies correctly.

The correct way should be in proper sentences:

• "How are you today Baby?" (use general term instead of their names/indicating their gender in case the identity is wrong)

• "Daddy is very busy today." (then next time baby will find it familiar when daddy keeps saying he's busy..haha..)

• "Let me sing you a song" (do not sing too long..cuz baby will fall asleep..haha).

• "Daddy loves you. Daddy is going to sleep now. Goodnight Baby" (or "Good morning Baby" when wake up in the morning)"

instead of any babylish talk like:

• " Ah grr grr baby..."
• "Ah goo goo..."

LOL! Mrs Wong says that babies are very clever. Do not underestimate their inteliigence and abilities to understand what we are saying so do not say those improper words/sentences.

She also taught the hubbies how to interact with the baby inside by tapping on the wives' tummy in a rhythmic pace (Up-Down-Side-Side), and the Butterfly strokes.. so ticklish!! Hahaha.. I kept giggling and can't stay still leh... It is especially funny when Mrs Wong asked the class if the babies are moving once after the hubbies do the stroking, almost all the wives say "No!" That's so hilarious! The hubbies are not doing their job well enough, I guess. Also not sure whether my hubby will continue to do that after learning from the lesson..

The antenatal exercise portion is the only interactive session of the class, and the rest of the class tends to bore Papa Yam. No choice lor. Its like that one. I think the subsequent lessons will be more informative to us.

After the class ends, we saw a rainbow admist the red evening skies behind the car park! So excited! I always like seeing rainbows cuz I feel lucky seeing them! Then I will make a wish (as usual)

Tired... and ill....

Have been quite tired for the past few days. Sleeping on my left side always gives me aches on the thighs and I have to turn to the other side often.. Not forgetting to mention that I have to wake up for wee-wee time, and also making sure I am safe from the partner's movements beside me.. So in fact I didn't sleep well at night..

At work, have to cope with more work as one of our colleague has tendered her resignation.. Well, it will just be more work for both of me and my pregnant boss for the subsequent few months. Gambate!

Maybe stress and tiredness makes my immune system weaker, thus more susceptible to getting ill... Moreover the horrendous weather that kept changing drastically - extreme sunny then rainy weather, makes me even more vulnerable. Caught a cold now and hopping to curb it and cure it before it explodes into full mode.

Previously was fretting over hiring a CL also puts another burden on my mind. Now finally it has been settled and one load off my mind.

I need a break away from work and city life...

Kairong & Xiufen's Wedding

Date of union: 15 March 09

Venue of solemnization: HortPark Garden Hub

Should I get a confinement lady?

I am getting more worried now.

"Should I get a confinement lady?" This question keeps weighing on my mind, and it gets heavier when I listen to more mothers share with me their "terribly tiring" experiences in the 1st month of confinement.

I know myself pretty well, that I am not a tough woman, so the more I doubt myself and my capabilities to cope with a newborn baby who will be demanding long duration of feeds, and high frequency some more! I do not know how to cope with long sleepless days and nights, the cries of the baby, the endless household chores of washing, mopping (esp I can't do heavy duty work in my confinement yet the house have to be kept clean with a baby around!) - it will be like a zombie month!

Am I being too pessimistic here, or am I being realistic here?

Hubby said that he will help me, but I do not want to burn him out as he still needs to work. Especially his line of work is pretty demanding. He often has to work through late nights/ occasional weekends now. How would he have that luxury of time when he has to cope with a newborn baby and an useless wife/mother? sigh...

Why is it that other women have the help of their mother/mother-in-law/or sometimes even both fighting to help? My mother has to take care of my ailing grandmother so she cannot help me. My mother-in-law has to work, so she can only cook and come over in the mornings...sigh...

So, should I:

(a) Hire a confinement lady and spent that more than $2000 amount on a reliable help so that our lives will be made easier? (Hubby didn't really want to hire one because he thinks there's no need to spend that money)

(b) Not hire a confinement lady and allow our lives to be drained and cause our relationship to sour when we get tired and things get ugly?

(c) hire a part-time domestic maid at $200+ to at least help with the household chores and relieve us part of the demands?

(d) be more positive-thinking and assume that we can do it, without the extra help?

(e) insist my mother to come help me despite I have already asked and hinted to her? (I can't be insisting my mother-in-law to come help me right? Not being to afford her loss of income thou...)

Well, by now, most of the good confinement ladies have been chopped by July mothers, for they have been discussing this topic at their 1st trimester (in sgmotherhood forum). I am the tortoise that has been lagging behind cuz I did not decide whether I want or not want to hire a confinement lady. With the months approaching the due date closer and closer, I can't help worrying... sigh sigh sigh...

Baby Spree @ Taka & Isetan Baby Fairs

Mummy Yam choose these clothes & baby cap @ great prices for Baby Yam.

Except for the middle one - Daddy Yam chose one. Very cute cuz have a hippo blib in front and a hippo at backside! so can see a hippo face when she crawls. naughty Daddy Yam!

Friday 13 Mar 09:

The Baby Spree @ Taka & Isetan Baby Fairs was a fruitful one! We bought many things for baby and its very shiok, yet tiring...

1) At Taka Fair - I started buying some nice clothes for Baby Yam while waiting for hubby to come after work. Then after that we bought daily necessities (mostly from Pigeon) for her.
Baby Yam blessed me to win Taka vouchers last Nov, so I used the vouchers to pay for all her purchases! She knows how to help us save money yet still can have things for herself! haha.. clever girl!

2) At Isetan Fair - Quickly walked to Isetan cuz duno if the items we saw are still available since we are late. Quite disappointing cuz the fair is so much small-scaled as compared to Taka fair. Nevertheless, we managed to get the things we eyeing for without having to jostle with the crowd! Taka is more crowded with people!

We walked continuously for 2- 3 hours.. So damn tired! Especially on my back and legs. Poor hubby have to carry everything so his hands are suffering aches.. But it was all worth it cuz we managed to get the stuffs at much discounted prices! (thanks to the extra help from a friend! : P)

Love going to Baby Fairs!!!Actually still have some things havn't finish buying. Wait till the next fair bah.

20 weeks: Detailed Scan (Gender Revealed!)

At the last gynae scan at my 16th weeks, the gender of Baby Yam was 99% confirmed...
Today we finally get 100% confirmation of the baby's gender!!

It's 100% PRINCESS!!!!

Of cuz both are us very thrilled and happy to know its a girl.. especially hubby.. He always like baby girls.. At least the clothes we've bought for Baby Yam is not wasted... And now we can go ahead and buy all those cute girlish pinkish things at ease...

Other than confirming the gender, I also went for my detailed scan to check on the baby's development - heart, lungs, kidney, eyes, limbs, spine. We also got to hear the baby's heartbeat. Wow, its really loud and strong.. Everything is normal and baby is healthy, except that she's a bit "slim"..  So I've been "instructed" to drink more milk (even gynae says at least 2 cups per day..) I realise I've been drinking not enough milk for the baby..OK now, I will try my best to drink more milk, on top of the calcium pills supplements prescribed by the gynae...(argh..)

Oh these few days I experienced a few sharp jabs by Baby Yam when I did not have my food intake in time.. I just felt the "karate jab" again after the gynae visit today cuz I "skipped" my tea break.. This seems to be quite a "protesting" princess whor! Hee...

Papa Yam can only feel baby's movements in another month's time... In the meanwhile he gota wait lor...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Updates of Baby Yam's status at 20th weeks:

• Weight = 290g

A sweet gesture for me & Baby Yam

She knows that Baby Yam needs more nutrition (aka FOOD) and that cause Mummy Yam to keep feeling hungry all the time! haha...

Thanks Shilin Jie Jie

~This is Us~

Left: Me ~ Right: Her

My 1st Yoga Class

I attended my very 1st prenatal yoga class today @ Mother & Child. Never had I ever tried yoga in my life. So pretty anxious how would the session goes...

The classroom is quite a nice and relaxing ambience setting. The instructor is a matured ang-moh lady. Very nice and assuring. In the class there are approximately 13 students, and some of them have very big bellies whor! We started with deep breathing relaxation techniques, then some of the stretching exercises of the thighs, shoulder, feet, and pelvic muscles. I even managed to put up one leg on the other leg while on standing position (like a flamingo) ! It may sound easy but as I am someone who can't balance well, I am quite amazed by my own feat (feet)! At the end of the session, we were made to lie down on our left side and rest our body and mind as this position is good for the baby's development.

As I am unfamiliar with the protocol before attending the yoga class, I ate some breakfast 1 hour before the session. In the end, I felt a bit pukey when doin some of the "stunts". After checking with the instructor then I realise food intake has to be 2 hours before the yoga session.. Luckily I din puke out!

Hope the prenantal yoga class will help me ease my back and hip ache, and make my muscles more flexible and conducive for child-birth.